DJI Inspire 1 and Inspire 1 Pro vs Inspire 2 Comparison

The Inspire range are some of the most popular drones on the market. They are big, powerful, and ideally suited for keen photographers and filmmakers. However, each model has a hefty price tag. That’s why we have made an in-depth comparison between the Inspire 1, Inspire 1 Pro, and Inspire 2 so that you can make the right decision and get the best value for money.

Hitting Top Speed

Everyone wants to know how powerful their drone will be and what speeds it can reach. The Inspire drones are exceptionally fast, especially when compared to the Phantom 3 and 4 range. The figures below show the maximum possible speeds for each drone. This is when flying with no wind resistance.

Model

Max Speed

Inspire 1

49mph

Inspire 1 Pro

40.2mph

Inspire 2

58mph

Each drone is quick but the Inspire 2 clocks out at a whopping 58mph. This is 9mph and 18mph faster than the Inspire 1 and Inspire 1 Pro respectively.

Staying Airborne

The longer your drone stays airborne, the more fun you will have, and the more photo opportunities will present themselves. That’s why flight time is crucial. Check out the stats in the table below. Just remember, these are maximum figures. Depending on how you use your drone and the conditions (windspeed etc.) these could be noticeably less.

Model

Maximum Flight Time

Inspire 1

18 minutes (4500mAh battery)

22 minutes (5700mAh battery)

Inspire 1 Pro

15 minutes (4500mAh battery)

18minutes (5700mAh battery)

Inspire 2

27 minutes

As you can see the Inspire 2 will stay airborne significantly longer than the other two models. This is because it has two powerful 4280mAh batteries.

You will also notice that the Inspire 1 models have two battery options. Obviously, the more powerful battery gives a longer flight time, so make sure you check which battery you’re getting before making a purchase.

Camera Quality

The Inspire 1 comes with a Zenmuse X3 camera. This allows for image capture at 12.4megapixels. Video can be recorded in 4K, at up to 30fps, while HD, 720p and 1080p can be recorded at 60fps.

The Inspire 1 Pro comes with an upgraded camera: the Zenmuse X5. This is 16megapixels and can record 4K at up to 60fps.

Now the Inspire 2’s camera is the most powerful by far. It is the Zenmuse X5S, which is 20 megapixels and can record 4K at 60fps. Not only that, it can record 5.2K at 30fps. This is a powerful tool for professional and semi-professional filmmakers and photographers.

Model

Megapixels

Frames per second (fps)

Inspire 1

12.4

4K at 30fps

Inspire 1 Pro

16

4K at 60fps

Inspire 2

20

4K at 60fps

5.2K at 30fps

Obstacle Avoidance

The Inspire 1 and Inspire 1 Pro both lack obstacle avoidance systems. Now, the Inspire 2 Pro, on the other hand, has an array of sensors on the front, top, and bottom. These will automatically stop it from crashing into a tree or building, as well as smaller obstacles such as power lines and fences. The forward sensors have a range of 30m and are effective at speeds up to 34mph. The upward facing sensors can scan for 4 meters, which is handy when flying indoors, under bridges, or in other narrow spaces.

Controller Range

Each of the Inspire drones incorporates Lightbridge downlink technology with their controllers. This allows for a significant range between drone and controller. The Inspire 1 and Inspire 1 Pro can reach a maximum distance of 3.1 miles before they can no longer receive commands. The Inspire 2 can go even further: up to 4.3 miles.

Intelligent Flight Modes

The Inspire range is programmed with a variety of intelligent flight modes. These include:

Waypoints: This allows you to set a drone’s flight path by placing waypoints.

Point of Interest: Makes the drone circle around a designated person, object, or feature.

Home Lock: Sets controls to be relative to the drone’s home point

Course Lock: Sets all controls relative to the direction that the drone is heading.

The Inspire 2 includes more mode options such as Spotlight Pro. This causes the drone’s camera to lock onto a subject, making it easier to obtain the best snaps.

DJI Goggles

This is a fully immersive headset that allows you to experience the flight of your drone. Unfortunately, it is only compatible with the Inspire 2, not the Inspire 1 or Inspire 1 Pro. The DJI Goggles get attached to the Inspire 2’s controller via USB and will relay imagery by using its video downlink technology.

Price

Current prices on Amazon put each drone at around:

Model

Estimate Price

Check Current Price

Inspire 1

$1,800

Inspire 1 Pro

$3,300

Inspire 2

$2,900

These are subject to change, so we recommend having a look yourself. If you are interested in second-hand or refurbished models, then you will be able to knock a few hundred or more off the price.

Similarities

All three drones have a few key features in common, which we would like to touch on.

A downwards facing vision positioning system is included with each model. This can only be used when drones are within a few meters of the ground. What it does is allow drones to accurately determine their position by using an array of sensors. This allows them to hover in place with minimal displacement.

Vertical displacement when using vision positioning: ±0.1 m

Horizontal displacement when using vision positioning: ±0.3 m

All drones include GPS and GLONASS positioning. This gives them access to the full range of American and Russian satellites, which allows them to determine their accuracy to a higher degree than just using GPS alone.

The maximum wind resistance is also the same. All Inspire models can safely fly at speeds up to 22.4mph.

Which One Should You Buy?

The Inspire 2 is obviously the best machine, and it has a similar price to the Inspire 1 Pro. This means that there is no justification for purchasing the Inspire 1 Pro. So really the decision is between the Inspire 2 and the significantly cheaper Inspire 1.

If you can afford it, just get the Inspire 2. It is fast, powerful, has excellent obstacle avoidance, and has a professional-level camera. We reckon that it makes the perfect purchase for filmmakers and photographers.

Now the Inspire 1 is around $1,100 cheaper at $1,800. This is still a hefty price tag for a somewhat dated model. If you can’t afford the Inspire 2 then, of course, consider the Inspire 1, but don’t forget about other drone ranges, such as the Phantom 4. You will find many Phantom models to be cheaper and more up to date with technology.

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Joseph Flynt

I love diving into the latest and greatest in emerging technologies and seeing what they can do. I enjoy running when I'm not thinking about tech.